Books

Publications archive

(most recent first)

To buy any of these books, click on the appropriate linkBeyond BeveridgeISBN: 9781906837570Civitas, November 2013, 163ppThe contributory principle at the heart of National Insurance has been corrided. NI should be scrapped and replaced by a system of personal welfare accounts. Download PDF Buy paperback

The Rise of the Equalities IndustryISBN 978-1-906837-33-4Civitas, 2011, 186ppEqualities laws have mushroomed and now undermine true equality of treatment."A brilliant book" Professor Kenneth Minogue"Makes startling reading...ought to be required reading for every employer" Minette Marrin, The Sunday Times"So gripped was I that I was still studying it two days later" Peter Hitchens, Daily Mail Purchase

When Prophecy FailsISBN 978186432 1760Centre for Independent Studies, 2011, 152 ppA new edition of my critique of The Spirit Level, including an extended review of how Wilkinson and Pickett tried to respond to their critics.Purchase from CIS

Beware False ProphetsISBN: 978-1-906097-78-3Policy Exchange, 2010, 123pp'The Spirit Level', by Wilkinson and Pickett, claims that everybody's lives would be better if income inequalities were compressed. But their statistics are badly flawed and their logic is faulty.'A thorough debunking' (David Aaronovich, The Times) Download or purchase hard copy from Policy Exchange

Social Mobility Myths ISBN: 978-1906837143 Civitas, 2010, 171ppIt's not true that social mobility has been declining, nor that Britain is a 'closed shop society', as a government minister claimed. If you are bright and motivated, you will almost certainly succeed.'Explodes the lies about our supposedly class-ridden society' (Sunday Express)'A devastating book' (Prospect magazine)'Fascinating' (Max Hastings, Financial Times) Buy from AmazonDownload PDF

The Versailles MemorandumISBN: 978-1-4452-0690-52009 (Ebook published 2011), 245ppPolitical thriller set in the year 2046. Aisha Sharizi is on the run from the religious police after having an affair with a kuffar boy. The body of a former cabinet minister is fished out of Sydney harbour. And failed historian Harry Davidson has just stumbled on a secret that the security services on both sides of the Atlantic are desperate to protect. More detailsThe Government Giveth, and the Government Taketh AwayISBN: 978 1 86432 165 4Centre for Independent Studies 2007, 165ppHow government 'churns' money by taking it from us in tax, only to give it back as welfare and family payments

The Survey Methods Workbook Polity Press, 2004 (with Alan Buckingham), 309ppISBN: 0-7456-2244-5- Indian edn published by Rawat Publications, 2014Hands-on, step by step guide to doing a social survey. 'A core text' (Sociological Research Online) Buy from Amazon Go to book web site

Australia's Welfare Habit - and how to kick it Duffy & Snellgrove/Centre for Independent Studies, 2004, 258 ppISBN: 1-86432-092-3"There has been no book of the kind that changes a generation of policy thinking. Peter Saunders' new book, Australia's Welfare Habit, may be just that book… welfare reform will be the most interesting question in serious policy for the next few years, and Saunders' book will be the best guide to it that we can have" (The West Australian) Buy from CIS

Reforming the Australian Welfare StateEdited collection of essays published by the Australian Institute of Family Studies, 2000, 300ppISBN: 0 642 39474 1Out of print

An Introduction to British Politics Polity Press 1984 (with J.Dearlove); revised third edition, Polity Press 2000, 803pp. ISBN: 0-7456-2096-5'One of the most original and challenging texts on British politics' (Prof Andrew Gamble)'A masterly sweep...a real book about politics' (Parliamentary Affairs)'Adopts a lively and clear style and significantly cuts a path through woolly thinking' (Times Educational Supplement)'Excellent...a sophisticated and comprehensive analysis' (Local Government Studies) View on Polity Press website Buy from Amazon

Unequal But Fair? A Study of Class Barriers in Britain Civitas (London) 1996, 96ppISBN: 0-255 36366-4Social mobility rates are much as we should expect, given the distribution of talent in the population.Out of print (superceded by Social Mobility Myths, Civitas, 2010).

Capitalism: A Social Audit Open University Press 1995, 108pp ISBN: 0-335-19141-X- translated & published in Romania in 1997 by Dustyle; in Chinese in 2006 by McGraw-Hill Education AsiaHas capitalism contributed to human wellbeing? 'Infuriating and compulsive' (Journal of Sociology) Buy from Amazon

Privatization and Popular Capitalism Open University Press 1994 (with Colin Harris), 200ppISBN: 0-335-15708-4- translated & published in Portugal in 1995 by Instituto Piaget (Lisbon)What impact did the Thatcher privatization programme have on workers, customers and voters?'Detailed, original, always clearly argued' (Times Higher Education Supplement)'A comprehensive and thought-provoking account' (Journal of Social Policy)'Fascinating reading' (Journal of Law and Society) Buy from Amazon

A Nation of Home Owners Unwin Hyman 1990, 418ppISBN: 004-445488-0The social, economic and political significance of the spread of home ownership in 20th century Britain.'Original, stimulating, iconoclastic, occasionally irritating...spiced by a distinctive element of rebellious individualism' (Journal of Sociology)'One of the most important books on housing in the last few years' (Sociology)'Virtuoso and sometimes dazzling well-written... it is brash, brilliant and cannot be ignored' (Times Higher Education Supplement) Buy from Amazon Free download

Social Theory and the Urban QuestionHutchinson, 1981, 309pp - revised edition (three new chapters) Hutchinson 1986, 394pp. ISBN: 0-09 164431 3 - American edition published 1981 by Holmes & Meier; translated & published in Germany in 1987 by Campus Stadium; in Italy in 1988 by Edizioni Lavoro; in South Korea in 1990'An ambitious and challenging book... lucid and sophisticated' (International Journal of Urban & Regional Research)'A fascinating and sophisticated review...I recommend it most highly' (Urban History Review) Buy from Amazon

Urban Politics: A Sociological Interpretation - Hutchinson 1979, 382pp - Penguin edition 1980ISBN: 0 09 136970 3Still one of the only community power studies ever conducted in Britain. Who does run Croydon?'Particularly stimulating (even exciting)...a must for all concerned to understand political power at the local level' (Parliamentary Affairs)'An interesting and rather brave study' (New Society)'Fascinating and enjoyable...an extremely impressive piece of work...beautifully written' (Public Administration)